In Your Arms Again

by David Horne

  "That was great," he grinned.

  Jason grinned back. He slowly pulled off the condom from his limp cock and carefully placed it at the foot of the bed.

  "You’re the best of the best," Jason told him.

  "So are you."

  "I have a concert to attend tomorrow in Honolulu. How about you come with me?" Fred asked.

  Chapter Seven

  The thought of leaving for Honolulu without Jason made him feel like he was going for a funeral ceremony. He never wanted to spend a minute of the next five days without Jason by his side.

  "You want me to come with you?" Jason sounded surprised.

  "Yes. Don't you want to come with me?"

  "I want to...it’s just that, I don't think this is a good idea. You’re a public figure and I’m a nobody."

  Jason didn't tell him that he was also a public figure. He had come to realize that Fred didn't follow the business world. He would have recognized him instantly.

  "Please, come with me."

  "I'm so sorry man. I would just distract you," He lied and began kissing him.

  Within minutes, Fred had forgotten all about the concert schedule to hold the following day. They made love two more times until they were both too tired to move their limbs. They lay in each other arms and slept the night away, each hating the fact that in five days, they would have to say goodbye to each other.

  ***

  Fred woke up the following day without Jason in bed. He touched Jason's side of the bed and was surprised to find it cold. He looked around the room and saw Jason's suitcase and laptop before he let out a smile.

  With a smile, Fred left the bed and ran to the bathroom. He took a cold shower, brushed his teeth and dried his body with a towel. Walking naked back to the room, he opened his closet and retrieved a white robe. He wore it, loosely tied the sash and made his way toward the living room.

  Once he opened the bedroom door, he caught the aroma of muffins.

  "Wow..." he laughed and ran to the kitchen.

  He stood by the door and saw Jason humming In Your Arms Again, the song he had sung at the club two nights ago. Jason was dressed in one of his robes. It was a bit short for him and he was making an omelet.

  The sight of Jason in his kitchen, working and humming at the same time warmed Fred's heart. This was a sight he wanted to wake up to every morning.

  He would be gone in four days.

  Fred thought this and felt sad, but he didn't know why. As if feeling Fred's eyes on him, Jason turned and smiled.

  "Good morning," he said, flashing him his best smile.

  Fred's heart melted. He smiled back.

  "Good morning,” he said and ran into the kitchen toward Jason. They began kissing and licking each other's tongue

  "I hope you don't mind. I couldn't help but prepare breakfast in your kitchen."

  "Please don't tell me that. Like I said before, make yourself at home."

  "Thanks."

  "Something smells good," Fred said, swallowing

  "I baked some muffins for breakfast."

  Fred was famished. He didn't wait. He reached out for a muffin and took a bite.

  "Wow!” he said, looking incredibly at Jason.

  "You like it?" Jason asked.

  "No, I don't like it. I love it! This is the most delicious muffin I have ever tasted,” he cried.

  "Don't flatter me," Jason told him.

  "I'm not kidding man. You’re a chef."

  "I learned from my mom and aside from being a businessman, I love cooking."

  "Have you thought about quitting your job and becoming a chef? I can help you. What's the use in working for someone when you can be your own boss?"

  "Stop kidding," Jason laughed uncomfortably.

  "I'm dead serious, man. I mean it. You can start your own restaurant and..."

  "I'm so sorry man, I'm not interested," Jason said in a do not argue with me tone.

  Fred, realizing he had overstepped his boundary and became instantly remorseful.

  "I'm sorry."

  "You should be," Jason said.

  "So, what's for breakfast?" Fred tried to change the topic.

  "Well, since we had quite a lot of exercise last night, we need our strength back. We are having muffins, omelets and coffee for breakfast."

  "Wow, that sounds delicious."

  They sat down and ate their food in silence. When they were done, Fred took the plates to the kitchen and began washing them.

  "Let me help."

  "No Jason, you cooked. I have to make myself useful."

  They spent the whole morning and afternoon laughing, sharing stories and eating.

  It wasn't until Fred's phone beeped that he realized it was getting late.

  "Hello?" he answered.

  "Where are you?"

  "I'm home," Fred answered.

  "We have to be on our way in the next hour. Hope you’re all packed up."

  "Packed up...?" he began to ask but then remember the concert. He had completely forgotten.

  "Don't tell me you've forgotten?" Ben asked.

  "Give me a beep when you’re downstairs, I’ll be down."

  "Why don't you want me to come up?" Ben was anxious to meet Fred's secret lover.

  "As I said before, I didn't hire you to manage my private life, just my musical and public life."

  Ben chuckled.

  "Was that your manager?" Jason asked.

  "Yes. I have to be at the concert tonight. I can't afford to miss it."

  "No qualms. I’ll be all right."

  "Are you sure?" he asked.

  "I'm sure. Come, I’ll help you get packed."

  The two walked back to the bedroom.

  "When will you be back?" Jason asked.

  "The concert is scheduled to start at nine tonight. I should be back by tomorrow evening."

  Forty minutes later, the lovers bid each other goodbye and Fred took his overnight bag downstairs.

  Once he was downstairs, he found Benjamin waiting for him.

  "You look great," Benjamin observed. He couldn't remember the last time he had seen Fred look so happy.

  "I’m a happy man." He grinned back and reached to open the door.

  "Good. We should be on our way."

  ***

  The concert came to an end at exactly 4:23 a.m.

  "Wow! That was great. You did well," Benjamin told Fred.

  Fred didn't say a word. When it was time for him to sing, he had sung Forever With You and to his surprise, he thought of no one but Jason as he sang the song. He was so emotional that the crowd began applauding him.

  "I love you, Fred Jacobs." A lady had shouted from the crowd.

  Fred only smiled and blew her a kiss.

  "We should return to our hotel and get some sleep," Ben said, hiding a yawn.

  Fred remained quiet.

  "Why are you so quiet man? You did well back there."

  "I'm okay," Fred supplied. He opened the door and boarded the car.

  "Your mind isn't here. It’s him, isn't it?" he asked.

  "Who?"

  "Your lover."

  "What about him?"

  "How can you be so careless as to leave him alone in your penthouse? What if he’s a thief?"

  "He isn't a thief," Fred defended Jason.

  "How would you know that?"

  "I’m an excellent judge of character."

  "Is that all you have to say?"

  Fred shrugged and looked out of the window, bringing the conversation to an end. The drive back to the hotel was a quiet one. Once they got back, Fred exited the car and walked upstairs to his room.

  Noticing that Fred was not in the mood to talk, Benjamin quietly walked to the room. Too tired to even make a call to his wife, he lay down and began to snore almost immediately.

  Meanwhile, Fred couldn't sleep. He kept tossing and sighing in his bed.

  Jason!

  He thought and felt warm in his heart.

  In three days
, Jason would be leaving and Fred felt like he was about to let his arm go. He finally slept at around six in the morning. By noon, Benjamin knocked on his door and they walked downstairs and had lunch of baked chips and fried eggs.

  The drive back from Honolulu was also a quiet one. He slept almost all through and by the time he was dropped in front of his penthouse, Fred's eyes lit with delight at the thought of seeing Jason again.

  "You can't wait to be with him, can you?" Benjamin asked but he may as well have been talking to himself because Fred had grabbed his bag and walked away.

  He took his private elevator and within minutes, he was in front of his room. He raised his hands to knock at the door but the door snapped open and Jason appeared there, dressed simply in a pair of shorts and t-shirt.

  "Jason..." Fred began but he found himself dragged into the room and the door closed.

  "I missed you so. I felt like I was going mad," Jason cried.

  He had spent the entire previous evening talking to his secretary. By morning, he couldn't concentrate. His mind kept drifting to Fred.

  "I missed you more." Fred cried.

  The two hastily got rid of each other's clothes and made love in the living room. By the time they could breathe again, they went to the bathroom and had a warm bath.

  "I bet you’re hungry?" Jason asked.

  "I’m very hungry."

  "I prepared dinner."

  "What’s for dinner?"

  "Rice, grilled chicken breast and salad."

  "Wow, you sure might make me fat in these few days," Fred laughed.

  "No, you won't be."

  "How would you know that?" Fred asked, raising a brow.

  "Because we have plenty of exercise to burn all the fat."

  They burst out laughing and went to eat. That night, as they slept in each other's arms, Jason opened his eyes and scrutinized Fred. After tonight, they would have two days.

  "I won't ever forget you, Fred," he whispered.

  He slept. He hated the fact that only two days remained.

  Chapter Eight

  The next two days were the best Fred and Jason could ever hope for. When it was finally time for them to part ways, it was as if the last five days never happened.

  "Stay with me," Fred begged Jason.

  He had packed his bag and was ready to go. The last two days were the best. They had spent their days touring the island, while their nights were spent in each other’s arms. It was the best five days of their lives.

  "Stay with me," Fred begged.

  "I can't," Jason replied.

  "Why can't you?"

  "It’s too complicated." Jason retorted.

  "Don't say that."

  "Why shouldn't I? We are two different people. You’re a musician who’s always traveling. How will I stay with you?"

  "Come with me on my trips." Fred sounded desperate.

  "Look Fred, I have a life to go back to. I have a responsibility to take care of and I have people looking up to me."

  "Can I visit you?" Fred asked.

  "Sure, you can," Jason said.

  "Call me if you need anything, whatever it is, so long as it’s not beyond me." Fred smiled.

  "I’ll keep that in mind."

  They kissed fiercely and Fred drove Jason to the airport where he took a flight back to New York. Jason was so sad he felt like returning to Fred but he knew he couldn't. He had stayed away long enough. It was time he faced reality.

  ***

  "Welcome back, sir." Sarah was there to welcome him.

  He opened his arms and she ran to them, smiling.

  "Wow, you look good, sir."

  "Thanks, Sarah."

  "How was your flight?"

  "Boring, as usual"

  "Hope you had a great time?" she asked

  Jason looked carefully at her. She was a year his junior, married with three kids yet she still looked hot. Her long blonde hair was made into a ponytail and she was dressed in a black suit. On her feet were a pair of black heels.

  "Sir?" she asked, looking at him from head to toe.

  Jason let out a chuckled. He was dressed in a pair of his old faded jeans. He wore a simple sweatshirt and looked like an ordinary man instead of the business tycoon he was.

  "What’s the problem?" he asked her, feigning ignorance.

  "You look...look so unlike you. You look..." She couldn't bring herself to say the word.

  "You mean I look simple and very ordinary?" he asked her.

  Sarah only nodded.

  "Well, I'm back now. Aren't you sad that you’re about to lose your job?" He smiled tenderly at her.

  "I would stick with you in whatever situation," she told him. Jason smiled. He knew that Sarah was loyal to him.

  "No. I want you to shoot higher in your career. You wouldn't want me to be so selfish, would you?" he asked her.

  "Welcome home, Jason." After a thought, she asked, "Has Shane made contact with you?"

  "No, he hasn't. I already spent a fortune looking for him. I'm done doing that."

  They got into her car and she began driving toward his penthouse.

  When she finally took the left turn toward St. Jude's Street, Jason smiled. He missed being home. She drove down the street and stopped in front of a building.

  "Tomorrow's meeting is scheduled at exactly nine o’clock," she informed him.

  "Good. I’ll be there."

  He left the car, took his suitcase and made his way toward the elevator. He took the elevator to his floor and within minutes, he was in front of his door. Retrieving his keys from the pocket of his suitcase, he unlocked the door and stepped into the house.

  He heard his phone begin to beep

  "Hey," he said, smiling sadly.

  "Hey" He heard Fred's voice.

  "How are you doing?" he asked Fred.

  "I'm missing you. The penthouse is too quiet without you."

  "I miss you too."

  "Guess what?"

  "What?"

  "I may be coming over in two weeks."

  "Really?"

  "Yes."

  "Let me know when you’ll be in town. I can't wait to have you."

  They ended the call and Jason sat down. About ten minutes later, he left his seat and walked to his bedroom. There, he got rid of his clothes, walked naked to the bathroom and had a cold bath. After his bath, he climbed under the sheets and fell into a night of tired sleep.

  ***

  He woke up the following morning to the sound of his phone beeping. Taking a look at his bedside clock, he cursed, retrieved his phone from the bedside table and pressed the receive button.

  "For crying out loud Sarah, it's only seven and the meeting isn't scheduled until nine this morning," he reminded her.

  "You haven’t heard?" she asked him. Her voice was loud. She sounded upset.

  "Heard what?" he asked in a sleepy voice.

  "You’re all over the news."

  "That's not new," he told her closing his eyes.

  "This time, it’s different."

  Hearing her tone, Jason hastily snapped his eyes open and sat up.

  "What is it?"

  "I don't know who leaked it to the media..."

  He cut her off.

  "What in the hell has been leaked?"

  "What else apart from the fact that the company has gone bankrupt."

  "Oh my goodness"

  "I’m at the office already and the phones won't stop ringing."

  "Damn it. I’m supposed to tell them this at the board meeting."

  "Yes, I know. What should we do?"

  "Let the meeting stand. I’ll be there for the meeting."

  "Okay, see you later."

  The line went dead and Jason was left to stare at his phone.

  "Damn it,” he cried.

  He left the bed, walked to his kitchen and brewed a cup of coffee. He was halfway through when his phone began to ring. It was Fred.

  "He must have heard...damn it," Jason shouted at th
e room but made no effort to take his call.

  He sat in the kitchen for another thirty minutes before he stood up and walked to his room. Once in his room, he had a bath and dressed immaculately in black suit and a white shirt. He wore a pair of black oxfords and combed back his hair.

  Jason turned and looked at himself in the mirror. He didn't look like the ordinary man who had disembarked from the plane the day before. The man staring at him looked polished and ruthless.

  The papers knew him as “The ruthless business tycoon.”

  He took his briefcase and walked out of his room and out of his penthouse. Taking a glance at his Rolex, he was surprised to see that it was already half past eight in the morning and the drive from his penthouse to the office was twenty minutes.

  He reached the parking lot and saw his car. Sarah had really been thoughtful. The car had been washed. It looked like it had just been bought. The black sportscar put a smile on Jason's lips.

  "Hey, little one," He smiled again, unlocked the car and got in. He placed his laptop and briefcase on the passenger's seat and buckled his seat belt.

  He drove away and found himself thinking of Fred. At this time, Jason would give his right arm to be with Fred. He would be glad to have Fred stand by his side now that his empire was falling apart.

  Twenty minutes later, he drove into the parking lot in front of his company and stepped out of the car. As soon as his Maybach was spotted, men and women suddenly appeared from nowhere and began running toward him.

  "Damn it, the media are here already," he cursed.

  But like the professional he was, Jason was quick to hide his expression. He turned the key, looked at himself for the last time in the rear view mirror before opening the door.

  As soon as he stepped out, he saw about a dozen people smiling at him.

  "Mr. Sawyer, where have you been for the past two weeks?" A lady of not more than twenty-three shoved the microphone at his face.

  "Mr. Sawyer? What is happening to you?" another voice asked him.

  "Where were you?" the first voice asked.

  "I was on a vacation."

  "Is it true that your company is going bankrupt?" he was asked.

  Jason smiled. He smiled as photos were taken. He was a public figure so he was used to this. He turned, beamed again and said,

  "Like any other company, my company has its own issues. Yes, we are having financial issues and we are trying all we can to put things in order."